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Blackpool Tower

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Blackpool Tower is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. When it opened, Blackpool Tower was the tallest man made structure in the British Empire.[1] Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, it is 518 feet (158 metres) tall and is the 125th-tallest freestanding tower in the world.[2] Blackpool Tower is also the common name for the Tower Buildings, an entertainment complex in a red-brick three-storey block that comprises the tower, Tower Circus, the Tower Ballroom, and roof gardens, which was designated a Grade I listed building in 1973.[3]

Blackpool Tower
Looking northeast
Blackpool Tower is located in Blackpool
Blackpool Tower
Location in Blackpool
General information
TypeObservation Tower, Radio Tower, Tourist Attraction
LocationBlackpool, Lancashire, England
Coordinates53°48′57″N 3°03′19″W / 53.81583°N 3.05528°W / 53.81583; -3.05528
Construction started1891
Completed1894
Opening14 May 1894; 130 years ago (1894-05-14)
ManagementBlackpool Council, Merlin Entertainments Group
Height
Roof518 ft 9 in (158.1 m)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Maxwell and Tuke
Structural engineerHeenan & Froude
Designations
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameTower Buildings
Designated10 October 1973
Reference no.1205810
Website
www.theblackpooltower.com

Background

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The Blackpool Tower Company was founded by London-based Standard Contract & Debenture Corporation in 1890; it bought an aquarium on Central Promenade with the intention of building a replica Eiffel Tower on the site. John Bickerstaffe, a former mayor of Blackpool, was asked to become chairman of the new company, and its shares went on sale in July 1891. The Standard Corporation kept 30,000 £1 shares and offered £150,000 worth of shares to the public; initially only two-thirds were taken up, forcing the company to ask for more cash contributions from its existing shareholders, but the poor financial situation of the company, exacerbated by the falling share price, rendered it unable to pay. Bickerstaffe, to avoid the potential collapse of the venture, bought any available shares until his original holding of £500 amounted to £20,000. He also released the Standard Corporation from its share commitments. When the Tower opened in 1894, its success justified the investment of nearly £300,000, and the company made a £30,000 profit in 1896.[4]

Two Lancashire architects, James Maxwell and Charles Tuke, designed the tower and oversaw the laying of its foundation stone[5] on 29 September 1891.[6] By the time the Tower finally opened on 14 May 1894, both men had died.[5] Heenan & Froude, then of Manchester, were appointed structural engineers, supplying and constructing both the tower, the electric lighting and the steel front pieces for the aquariums. A new system of hydraulic riveting was used, based on the technology of Fielding & Platt of Gloucester.[7]

The total cost for the design and construction of the tower and buildings was about £290,000.[8] Five million Accrington bricks, 3,478 long tons (3,534 t) of steel and 352 long tons (358 t) of cast iron were used to construct the tower and base.[8][9] Its base is hidden by the building that houses Blackpool Tower Circus. The building occupies a total of 6,040 square yards (1.25 acres; 5,050 m2).[3] At the summit of the tower there is a flagpole[10][11] where the height at the top measures 518 feet 9 inches (158.12 m) from the ground.[9] A time capsule was buried under the foundation stone on 25 September 1891.[8]

The tower's design was ahead of its time. As a writer for the BBC noted: "In heavy winds the building will gently sway, what a magnificent Victorian engineering masterpiece."[11]

History

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Blackpool Tower's first circus programme
 
The Tower and Illuminations

When the Tower opened, 3,000 customers took the first rides to the top.[5] Tourists paid sixpence for admission, sixpence more for a ride in the lifts to the top, and a further sixpence for the circus.[8] The first members of the public to ascend the tower had been local journalists in September 1893, using constructors' ladders.[12] The top of the Tower caught fire in 1897, and the platform was seen on fire from up to 50 miles (80 km) away.[6]

The Tower was not painted properly during its first thirty years and became corroded, leading to discussions about demolishing it. However, it was decided to rebuild it instead, and all the steelwork in the structure was replaced and renewed between 1920 and 1924.[9][13] On 22 December 1894, Norwegian ship Abana was sailing from Liverpool to Savannah, Georgia, but was caught up in a storm, and mistook the recently built Blackpool Tower for a lighthouse. Abana was first seen off North Pier, and later drifted to Little Bispham where she was wrecked, and can still be seen at low tide. The ship's bell still hangs in St Andrews Church in Cleveleys.[14]

In 1940, during the Second World War, the crow's nest was removed to allow the structure to be used as a Royal Air Force radar station known as 'RAF Tower',[10] which proved unsuccessful.

A post box was opened at the top of the tower in 1949.[12] The hydraulic lifts to the top of the tower were replaced in 1956–57 and the winding-gear was converted to use an electric motor.[3]

The top of the tower was painted silver in 1977 as part of Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee celebrations.[3] A giant model of King Kong was placed on the side of the tower in 1984.[3] In 1985, escapologist Karl Bartoni and his bride were married suspended in a cage from the tower.[12]

The lifts and winding gear were again replaced in 1992.[3] The same year, the tower complex was renamed Tower World, and was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales.[15] The tower is usually painted in dark red, except for its centenary year in 1994 when it was painted gold by abseiling painters.[3][10] In 1998, a "Walk of Faith" glass floor panel was opened at the top of the tower. Made up of two sheets of laminated glass, it weighs half a tonne and is two inches thick.[12] In October 2007, a laser beam installed on the Tower for the duration of the annual Illuminations was criticised by astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, presenter of television programme The Sky at Night, who said: "Light pollution is a huge problem. I am not saying we should turn all the lights out, that is not practical, but there are some things which are very unnecessary. The Blackpool Tower light is certainly something I do not think we should be doing. I very much oppose it." The beam could be seen 30 miles (48 km) away; Moore called for it to be stopped. The centre for Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston said the laser has added to a spiralling problem affecting astronomy.[16]

The tower has transmitters for local FM station Radio Wave 96.5 and some non-broadcast services.

The tower continued to be owned by the Bickerstaffe family until 1964, when the Blackpool Tower Company was sold to EMI.[17] Since then it has been owned by Trust House Forte, First Leisure Corporation, and Leisure Parcs Ltd, owned by Trevor Hemmings.[18] In March 2010, it was announced that Blackpool Council had bought Blackpool Tower, and that the Merlin Entertainment Group would manage it and add various attractions, including a new Dungeon attraction, and a new observation deck called Blackpool Tower Eye would operate at the top of the tower.[19] The company was also to manage the Blackpool Louis Tussauds waxwork museum, to be rebranded as Madame Tussauds.[20]

On 12 December 2021, the tower was evacuated after reports of smoke.[21] Fire services found it was caused by an electrical fault in a neighbouring property.[22]

On 28 December 2023, at around 14:15 GMT, flames were reported close to the top of the tower. Lancashire Fire & Rescue responded with six fire engines, a drone team and rope rescue. In addition to this, LFRS were also supported by a helicopter from the National Police Air Service. Later that day, at around 16:30 GMT, it was revealed that the 'flames' were in fact orange netting that was blowing in the wind.[23]

Blackpool Tower Eye

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The top of the tower is currently known as the Blackpool Tower Eye. At a height of 380 feet (120 m), the Eye is the highest observation deck in North West England. It was previously known simply as the Tower Top, until it reopened in September 2011. Reopening after a major renovation, new owner Blackpool Council brought in Merlin Entertainments to manage the attractions, with Merlin deciding to incorporate the tower into its range of "Eye" branded attractions.[24]

Tower Ballroom

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A couple dance on the floor of the Tower Ballroom
 
Jazz event in the Tower Ballroom
 
View of the whole of the dance floor in the Tower Ballroom

The original ballroom, the Tower Pavilion, opened in August 1894. It was smaller than the present ballroom, and occupied the front of the tower complex.[25] The Tower Ballroom was built between 1897 and 1898 to the designs of Frank Matcham, who also designed Blackpool Grand Theatre, and it opened in 1899. It was commissioned by the Tower company in response to the opening of the Empress Ballroom in the Winter Gardens. The sprung ballroom floor is 120 ft × 102 ft (37 m × 31 m) and is made up of 30,602 blocks of mahogany, oak and walnut.[25] Above the stage is the inscription "Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear", from the poem Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare. Each crystal chandelier in the ballroom can be lowered to the floor to be cleaned, which takes over a week.[26]

From 1930 until his retirement in 1970, the resident organist was Reginald Dixon, known affectionately worldwide as "Mr. Blackpool". The first Wurlitzer organ was installed in 1929, but it was replaced in 1935 by one designed by Dixon. Ernest Broadbent took over as resident organist in 1970, retiring due to ill-health in 1977. The current resident organist is Phil Kelsall who has been playing the organ at the Tower since 1975, when he started in the circus. Kelsall became resident in the ballroom in 1977, and he was awarded an MBE like Dixon in 2010 for services to music.

The ballroom was damaged by fire in December 1956; the dance floor was destroyed, along with the restaurant underneath the ballroom. Restoration took two years and cost £500,000, with many of the former designers and builders coming out of retirement to assist; the restaurant then became the Tower Lounge.[26]

The BBC series Come Dancing was televised from the Tower Ballroom for many years;[27] it has also hosted editions of Strictly Come Dancing, including the grand finals of the second and ninth series, on 11 December 2004 and 17 December 2011 respectively.[28]

The Blackpool Junior Dance Festival ("Open to the World") has been held each year in the ballroom since 1964.[25] Also, the World Modern Jive Championships are held annually.

Dancing was not originally allowed on Sundays; instead, sacred music was played. The ballroom also originally had very strict rules, including:

  • "Gentlemen may not dance unless with a Lady" and
  • "Disorderly conduct means immediate expulsion".[26]

The ballroom has had a number of resident dance bands including Bertini and his band, and Charlie Barlow.[29][30] Other smaller dance bands have also appeared as residents, including the Eric Delaney Band[31] and the Mike James Band.[32]

Under the management of Leisure Parcs, and the direction of bandleader Greg Francis, the Blackpool Tower Big Band was reformed in 2001 after an absence of 25 years. The New Squadronaires, the Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra and the Glenn Miller Tribute Orchestra also performed.[33] Themed nights were also introduced along with the sixteen-piece orchestra, with resident singers including Tony Benedict, Lynn Kennedy, Robert Young and Mark Porter.[citation needed] The Empress Orchestra became resident in the ballroom in 2005, alongside the specially created and smaller Empress Dance Band.[34]

 
The Orchestrion

The Tower's orchestrion is now in the collection of Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.[35] The ballroom, together with the Tower, Circus and Roof Garden, were designated a Grade I listed building in 1973.[36]

Tower Circus

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The Tower Circus is positioned at the base of the tower, between its four legs. The circus first opened to the public on 14 May 1894, when admission was from 6d, and, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, has not missed a season since.[37]

The present interior was designed by Frank Matcham and was completed in 1900.

The circus ring can be lowered into a pool of water and holds 42,000 imperial gallons (190,000 L) at a depth of up to 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m),[37] which allows for Grand Finales with Dancing Fountains. The Tower Circus is one of four left in the world that can do this.

The clown Charlie Cairoli appeared at the tower for 39 years. Britain's best-known ringmaster Norman Barrett worked the ring for 25 years, while Henry Lytton Jr. was Ringmaster here from 1954 to 1965.

Animals appeared in the circus until 1990.[37] It was planned to close the circus at the end of the 1990 season and replace it with an animatronic attraction. Public opinion and the fact the animatronics were not ready meant that the circus continued.

Today, the circus is produced and directed by Hungarian Laci Endresz, who is married to Maureen, one of the Roberts family who have a long association with the Tower Circus. A live band (sometimes accompanied by Mooky the Clown) provides all the music for the show, often dynamically syncing with the performers' movements. The circus band play a variety of different songs, usually Latin for the acts. In winter, the circus stages a pantomime instead of the regular show.

Menagerie and aquarium

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Dr. Cocker's Aquarium, Aviary and Menagerie had existed on the site since 1873.[38] It was kept open to earn revenue while the Tower building went up around it, and then became one of the Tower's major attractions. The aquarium was modelled on the limestone caverns in Derbyshire. It housed 57 different species of fresh water and salt water fish, and the largest tank held 32,000 litres (7,000 imp gal; 8,500 US gal) of salt water.[39] The menagerie and aviary were regarded as one of the finest collections in the country, and included lions, tigers, and polar bears.[40]

The menagerie continued until 1973,[38] when it was closed following the opening of Blackpool Zoo near Stanley Park. Due to the Tower being run by Merlin Entertainments, which also runs the nearby Sea Life Centre, the aquarium closed in 2010, and was remodelled to make way for a new "Dungeons" attraction.[41][42]

Other attractions

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Blackpool tower's previous Walk of Faith glass floor
 
View from the top of the tower
 
Blackpool Tower and Coral Island

Jungle Jim's Children's Indoor Play was a large indoor children's adventure playground situated within the Tower. It featured a £3 million interactive play scheme, based on a notional lost city, covering over 2,500 square metres (27,000 sq ft). Children could tackle a series of adventures in search of hidden treasure.[43] A new attraction "The Fifth Floor" which is a brand new multi-functional free family entertainment and events area opened in September 2019 as well as a VR roller coaster ride and a circus themed arcade.

The Tower Lounge Bar was a large pub with a capacity of 1,700, but staff usually limited occupancy to 1,400 for a more relaxed atmosphere. It closed down in 2014, and has since reopened as a Harry Ramsden's fish and chip restaurant.

The Blackpool Tower Dungeon is part of an international chain of Dungeon experiences operated by Merlin Entertainments. Opened in 2011, it incorporates elements of history with fear, and shows based on gallows humour. It also features "Drop Dead", a 26 ft (7.9 m) drop tower that simulates being executed by hanging. As an addition to the Dungeon brand Merlin introduced the first ever Dungeon themed Escape Room in 2017.[44]

Merlin Entertainments launched Dino Mini Golf, an indoor crazy golf course with "9 holes of prehistoric fun", in March 2018. It has been described by Aaron Edgar, the Blackpool Tower Operations manager, as "65 million years in the making".[45]

Visible through the glass floor of the Tower Eye on the promenade some 380 ft (120 m) below, is Blackpool's famous Comedy Carpet.[46] In front of the tower, the Comedy Carpet by Gordon Young[47] is a celebration of the resort's long comedic history in the form of a visual pavement of jokes and catchphrases, embedded into the surface of the revamped promenade.[48] From above, it is easy to read the eternal catchphrase of the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, "Nice to see you - to see you... nice!".[49]

Tower maintenance

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Painting the Tower structure takes seven years to complete,[11][18] and the workers who maintain the structure are known as "Stick Men". There are 563 steps from the roof of the Tower building to the top of the Tower, which the maintenance teams use for the structure's upkeep. If the wind speed exceeds 45 mph (72 km/h), the top of the Tower is closed as a safety precaution;[9] if the wind reaches 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) the tower top sways by an inch.[18] 5 miles (8 km) of cables are used to feed the 10,000 light bulbs which are used to illuminate the Tower.[18] In April 2002, the Tower maintenance team was featured in the BBC One programme Britain's Toughest Jobs.[50]

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Visual reporting point

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Known as "the tall tower", the tower is a visual reporting point (VRP) for general aviation aircraft in the local Blackpool airspace.[57]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Would you dare to look down on Blackpool?". The Independent. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2019. When completed, Blackpool Tower was the tallest building in Britain.
  2. ^ "The Skyscraper Center". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (81–90)". The Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  4. ^ Lancashire Record Office DDX1444 introduction
  5. ^ a b c "The story of Blackpool and its Tower". Icons. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  6. ^ a b "The Blackpool Tower, the great icon of British Victorian engineering, 1894". Ward Book of Days. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  7. ^ Stephan Mills: Fielding & Platt, An innovative Gloucester engineering company. The first 100 Years, 1866–1966, S. 11 Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b c d "The Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (71–80)". The Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  9. ^ a b c d "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (91–100)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  10. ^ a b c "Blackpool Tower". Enjoy Blackpool. 12 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  11. ^ a b c Entwistle, Simon. "Local landmarks: Blackpool Tower". BBC. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (51–60)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  13. ^ "World Federation of Great Towers – Blackpool Tower". World Federation of Great Towers. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  14. ^ Fleming, Craig (5 February 2008). "The Fylde coast – A graveyard for ships". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  15. ^ a b "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (61–70)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  16. ^ "Veteran TV star-gazer blasts tower laser". Blackpool Gazette. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  17. ^ "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (41–50)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  18. ^ a b c d "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (101–110)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  19. ^ "The Blackpool Tower". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  20. ^ "Merlin Entertainments, leading name in location based, family entertainment - Merlin To Open Three New Attractions In Blackpool". www.merlinentertainments.biz. Archived from the original on 3 April 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Blackpool Tower evacuated after reports of smoke". BBC News. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  22. ^ Major, Melissa (12 December 2021). "Cause of Blackpool Tower smoke found by fire crews after full evacuation". LancsLive. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  23. ^ "Blackpool Tower 'fire' was actually fluttering orange netting". BBC News. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  24. ^ "This Blackpool institution has the best views in the UK - and a cocktail bar at 380 feet!". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  25. ^ a b c "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (21–30)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  26. ^ a b c "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (31–40)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  27. ^ "BBC in talks over TV show's return". Blackpool Gazette. 19 February 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  28. ^ "Strictly a sellout for return of TV classic". Blackpool Gazette. 18 November 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  29. ^ Barlow, John. "Charles Barlow and the Tower Band". Barlow Genealogy. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  30. ^ Curtis, Bill (June 1988). Blackpool Tower. Terence Dalton. ISBN 0-86138-064-9.
  31. ^ "From Leigh to Las Vegas – A brief biography". Andy Prior. 2002. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  32. ^ "Mike James Sound". Mike James. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  33. ^ "Big Bands back at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool". DancesportUK. 2001. Archived from the original on 5 November 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  34. ^ "The Empress Dance Band". The Empress Orchestra. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  35. ^ Birmingham Museums Trust accession record 1956S00629
  36. ^ Historic England. "Tower Buildings (1205810)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  37. ^ a b c "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (11–30)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  38. ^ a b "Closed collections - The Bartlett Society". Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  39. ^ "Blackpool Tower Heritage Trail (01–10)". Blackpool Tower. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  40. ^ "Lytham & St.Annes on the Sea Lancashire - Local History - Blackpool Tower Menagerie 1904".
  41. ^ The Blackpool Gazette 25-08-10
  42. ^ "Blackpool Tower Aquarium to be replaced by dungeon". BBC. 19 November 2010.
  43. ^ Ettridge, Lisa (18 January 2008). "Get onboard Adventureland's crew". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  44. ^ "Will you lose your head at the brand new Blackpool Tower Dungeon Escape Room? - The Guide Liverpool". The Guide Liverpool. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  45. ^ "Prehistoric golf is newest attraction to open at Blackpool Tower". Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  46. ^ "Comedy Carpet Blackpool". Visit Blackpool. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  47. ^ "Designing Blackpools Comedy Carpet". Illy Woolfson The Design Council. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  48. ^ "Anger piles up over Blackpool comedy carpet 'destruction'". The Guardian. 20 March 2012.
  49. ^ "Brucie Bonus: The catchphrases he was known for". Sky News. 19 August 2017.
  50. ^ "A head for heights". Blackpool Gazette. 15 April 2002. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  51. ^ Marriott Edgar (n.d.). Albert 'Arold and Others. Francis, Day and Hunter.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  52. ^ Michael Marshall, ed. (1979). The Stanley Holloway Monologues. Elm Tree Books.
  53. ^ sometimes later referred to as Albert and the Lion
  54. ^ The other Blackpool Zoo only opened in 1972, long after the date of this story
  55. ^ "Vicar's towering rock of ages on 500ft stage". Blackpool Gazette. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  56. ^ "Winona Ryder meets The Killers in creepy new video for 'Here With Me'". NBC News. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  57. ^ Visiting by air – Blackpool Airport
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